The country is the last major economy wedded to a zero-Covid strategy
China placed 1.7 million people under lockdown in central Anhui province, where authorities reported nearly 300 new cases in the latest outbreaks testing Beijing's no-tolerance approach to COVID-19.
The country is the last major economy wedded to a zero-Covid strategy, responding to all cases with strict isolation orders and tough testing campaigns.
The outbreak in Anhui -- where officials first found hundreds of cases last week -- comes as the Chinese economy begins to rebound from a months-long lockdown in Shanghai and disruptive Covid restrictions in the capital Beijing.
Two counties in the province -- Sixian and Lingbi -- announced lockdowns last week, with more than 1.7 million residents only permitted to leave their homes if they are getting tested.
Footage from CCTV showed empty streets in Sixian over the weekend and people lining up for their sixth round of mass testing in recent days.
The province reported 287 new infections, including 258 people who had no symptoms, according to China's National Health Commission, bringing the total cases found to just over 1,000.
On Monday, 04 July 2022, Provincial governor Wang Qingxian urged local authorities to "seize every minute and earnestly implement quick screening" as well as rapid quarantine and reporting of cases, in a statement published by the Anhui government.
Jiangsu province also reported 56 new local infections across four cities.
The Brief. Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now.